BEIJING, Jan. 2 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Ethiopia, Djibouti, Ghana and Senegal from Jan. 6 to 11, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a daily press briefing here on Thursday.

Choosing Africa as the destination of the foreign minister's first visit in the new year shows how China values Africa, said Qin.

He added that it has been a tradition since 1991 for Chinese foreign ministers to first visit Africa every new year.

"It is also the first visit paid by the foreign minister to sub-Saharan Africa since China's new administration took office," Qin said.

China believes the visit will deepen state-to-state friendship, mutual trust and cooperation, and boost Sino-African friendship of cooperation, Qin said.

Wang is invited by Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tewodros Adhanom, Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Ghana's Foreign Minister Hannah Tetteh and Senegal's Foreign Minister Mankeur Ndiaye.